Latest News - September 2026
HARVEY PATES MAKES EFL CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT
The Pates family, agent (and Galacticos partner) Chris McGrath and Tony, were the proudest people on planet earth on 29th August 2026, when Harvey made his EFL Championship debut for Blackburn Rovers FC, against Queens Park Rangers (QPR) at Ewood Park, wearing squad number 39. This achievement was not expected so soon after making his debut in pre-season at Accrington Stanley, so the pride was shared with joyous shock! Harvey has promised Tony that he will now relentlessly pursue the starting XI, which Tony has no doubts will be coming very soon.
NURI LATHAM RAISES HIS BAR
On Wednesday 2nd September 2026, 15 years old Nuri Latham, astonishingly made his U21s debut for Preston North End FC Academy against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League Cup. It is an incredible start to the 2026-27 season, which could surpass his phenomenal success last season in which he was:
Selected for the England U15s National Goal Keeping Pool; Offered an U16s contract for 2026-27 and and U18s Football & Education Scholarship for 2027-28 and 2028-29 by PNE Academy; Part of the historic Northern and National EFL Academy Floodlit Cup winning PNE U15s; Part of the historic Hindburn & Ribble Valley District Schools U15s Team that were ESFA National Runners Up, North West Cup Winners and Lancashire Cup winners; Part of the CONCACAF U15s and U17s World Cup qualifying squads for Bermuda.
In addition to his U21s debut, he has already played for PNE Academy’s U16s; U17s; U18s and U19s. Time really has flown by so quickly from the day Tony put his arm round the 12 years old Nuri, after he put in a magnificent performance for his touring Bermuda “all-stars” against Everton FC’s Academy U13s at Finch Farm. That day, Tony told Nuri’s parents, Nuri Snr and Lisa, that he would go on to play at the highest level of “the beautiful game”, but even then, he could not have imagined everything that has happened up to now, although he would say that it is not down to luck.
Nuri lives his life like a gladiator preparing to fight to the death in the arena. His work-ethic - taken from Nuri Snr - is as elite as it gets. If he is not doing extra goal keeper training with his private coach (Junayd Voragee - J1GK), or not doing extra strength & conditioning training with KPI (King Performance Ideology), or not relentlessly practicing his kicking and ball skills, he will be taking ice baths, going for 5km runs and doing yoga. All this and he’s a top student in school too.
Tony has always called Nuri “a special one” and has no doubts whatsoever, that his prophecy is going to be fulfilled!
LATEST NEWS - AUGUST 2026
HARVEY PATES MAKES 1ST TEAM DEBUT
When original Galacticos co-founder Jimmy Hayes (now co-founder of partners Pro Soccer Global) asked Tony to coach a session for a touring U15s team from Canada, neither could of dreamed of what would happen 4 years later. That session finished with a full-pitch game, in which young Harvey Pates controlled and crossed a ball like Phil Foden. Jimmy and Tony instantly looked at each others and Tony stopped the session to tell Harvey he wanted to speak to him and his dad after. In the car park of Jericho Soccer Hub (Leisure United), he told them he had no doubts whatsoever, that Harvey had what it took to become a professional footballer and invited him to join Galacticos - baptising him Harvey FODEN Pates.
Going into pre-season that year, Tony ran a mind-blowing pre-season prep programme that had sessions every day that June. At the end of the month, Harvey was the only player who attended every session and that desire, discipline and dedication immediately paid off, with a trial for Blackburn Rovers FC Academy U16s. Never was a Galactico more prepared to succeed and that is exactly what he did. Once signed, Tony popped round to keep his feet on the ground and set him goals far beyond his imagination. It did not take Blackburn long to offer him an U18 scholarship. In his U17 season, he regularly trained and played with the U18s. At the start of his U18 season, he was fully promoted to the U21s and started training with the first team, earning him a 3 year professional contract. So it was with great pride that Tony joined his family and agent on 11th July 2026 to watch Harvey make his first team debut away to Accrington Stanley in a 0-0 draw, joining Tony’s son Antonee JEDI Robinson and Robert NEYMAR Apter, as Galacticos who made their debuts in the EFL Championship. Harvey has promised Tony that he will become a first team regular by the end of this season and Tony has no doubts he will achieve it.
SAM BILLINGTON’S DREAM COMES TRUE
He had been a prodigy at Liverpool FC’s Academy (U5s - U12s), but had to withdraw from the academy through lack of game-time, due to being too small. The training compensation prevented him from signing for the academies of Everton FC, Manchester United FC and Manchester City FC. And then he developed severe Osgood-Schlatter Disease in both knees.
When 15 years old Sam turned up at Galacticos Soccer Academy, his football dream was in tatters. But even though he was not able to train at maximum intensity, Tony clearly saw his brilliance and promised Sam that he would not stop until his dream came true. The next 8 years would be a roller-coaster of highs and lows for the pair and Sam’s dad.
Highs included an offer of an U18 scholarship by Blackpool FC, being part of Radcliffe FC’s 1st team promotion from non-league step 4 - at just 18. He also earned a contract at step 2 Southport FC. However, there were lows with rejection from trials with Port Vale FC, Salford City FC, Barnsley FC and Southend FC, and a major injury during his spell with Southport.
The turning point came, when Tony convinced Sam to work with Galacticos partners King Performance Ideology. Tom King (former head of performance at LFC) turned Sam into an athletic machine and the resulting confidence allowed him last season, to complete his first full and injury free campaign, since his last season in LFC’s academy with Welsh Premier League Bala Town FC. His now agent (a former Bala player) reacted like lightening to secure a full-time professional contract this season with HOUGANG UNITED FC of the Singapore Premier League, fulfilling Tony’s promise and in doing so becoming the 18th professional that Tony has guided.
GARRETT KELLY DEFIES ODDS AT 29
Garrett was playing for UTTOXETER TOWN FC in the non-league step 6 when Tony first came across him. He could not believe what he was watching - a player he likened to the great BRYAN ROBSON. The pair have been like father and son since with Tony guiding Garret’s rise up the pyramid culminating in a few seasons in the National League South (step 2) with with Aveley FC, Tonbridge Angels FC, AFC Totton and Welling United FC.
Then came Garrett’s big break, when selected to play for Sri Lanka’s national team (his mother’s country). This motivated Garrett to take his game to the professional level and his average 13.5km/game.
His lung-bursting all-action performances for club and country, convinced his current agent to take the gamble and secure him a contract with ALAY OSH in the KYRGYZ PREMIER LEAGUE, thus proving it is never too late for one’s dreams to come true. Garrett is going into his second season determined to lead his team to do better than last season’s 5th placed finish in the league and the semi-finals of the Kyrgyzstan Cup. He is even more determined for his country to do better in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the Asian Cup.
PANASHE MAKWIRAMITI’S ODYSSEY
When Tony gave a motivational speech to IDA (Inspire Development Academy Sheffield) men’s U23s, it convinced Panashe that he was the missing link in his global journey, chasing his football dream. His journey started when he made the jump from grass-roots to Arsenal FC’s Academy Development programme, where he spent 2 years. His next stop was an academy U18s scholarship with non-league step 4 Hastings United FC for 2 years. From there, he progressed into non-league step 5’s Eastbourne United FC’s first team for a season and thereafter he became a globe trotter, playing for Manchester 62 FC in Gibraltar’s top flight. The following season, he played for Härnösands FF in Sweden’s 5th tier.
Next stop was FC Twenty 11 in New Zealand’s 3rd tier, after which, he returned to England to play for IDA’s U23s in their inaugural season and for the world’s oldest football club (SHEFFIELD FC) in non-league step 5 - a true odyssey! So, after meeting Tony, Panashe reached out and became one of his mentees. Immediately, Panashe learned the hard way, that Tony’s perception of excellence, was way above his own. After a trial game at Connah’s Quad Nomads FC, Tony ruthlessly pointed out the best player on the pitch and told Panashe he was nowhere near his level. He made it clear that to be his mentee, meant the relentless pursuit of perfection!
Panashe embraced this and made an oath to himself and Tony, that he would be a professional footballer within a year. Not only did he keep that promise by securing a professional contract with Welsh Premier League HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY FC, he also achieved the greatest honour any footballer can have - to play for his country ZIMBABWE, in an end of season tournament in London. He is into his second season with Haverfordwest County, but has already set his sights on the EFL for season 2027/28.